Been a lot of talk of "windows" lately around the Dallas Cowboys, starting when team owner Jerry Jones answered a question about whether the team's championship "window" was closing in the affirmative. Jones was talking about himself, as Calvin Watkins suggests in the lead-in to his latest ESPNDallas.com piece. But the comment has sparked some debate about what this "window" concept actually means.

Calvin looks at five people (other than Jones) and debates specifically whether their windows of opportunity are closing in Dallas. They are quarterback Tony Romo, coach Jason Garrett, linebacker DeMarcus Ware, wide receiver Dez Bryant and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

Personally, I don't see how Garrett or Romo are in any danger of being replaced anytime soon, given the personal feelings the owner has for them and the faith he appears to have in them. And obviously, as he enters just his third NFL season, Bryant still projects as part of the Cowboys' future. Ryan could be gone if the defense regresses. But I was most interested in the question of Ware, who is one of the dominant defensive players in the game but turns 30 at the end of this month and is likely feeling the tug of his Super Bowl aspirations. Here's what Calvin wrote on him:

His skills aren't eroding, his value within the franchise hasn't diminished, but the Cowboys' best defensive player doesn't want to be considered the Ernie Banks of his generation. Ware can't do it by himself, yet he's under the microscope more this season than any other. The Cowboys need Ware to continue being a dominant force. If he slides and the Cowboys again miss the playoffs, the scrutiny will only increase.

Ware obviously isn't going anywhere anytime soon, as he's the best player the Cowboys have and the key to their entire defense. But he also said recently that he agreed with Jones' perspective on this "window" issue, and it makes you think he might be wondering what it's going to take for him to get that championship ring. I'm interested to see whether we start hearing more this year about Ware as a team leader and a vocal presence in the locker room. Because he's one of the veterans now, and one of the guys to whom others will look for guidance and example. And he seems to know what that means for his future and his hopes to accomplish what he wants to accomplish in the NFL.